What is HIPAA?

HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 which applies to the storage and/or electronic transmissions of patient related information, and is intended to ensure patient confidentiality for all health care related information.

 

Specialized Speech Technologies is required by state and federal laws to protect the confidentiality of your health information. The confidential information that we obtain as we deliver services to you is called “protected health information”. We can use and disclose your protected health information as is illustrated below:

 

1. We are permitted to use protected health information to provide treatment and to help us coordinate services among Specialized Speech Technologies personnel and with others involved in your care such as family members, your pharmacist, suppliers of medical equipment, and your physician; or we can use your information to recommend an alternative treatment to you or to notify you of any additional services that may be recommended.

2. We are permitted to use protected health information to obtain payment such as including your health information on invoices and insurance forms to collect payment. We may also need to obtain prior approval from your insurer and explain your need for the services that we will provide to you.

3. We are permitted to use protected health information for health care operations to evaluate and improve the quality of services or to write new guidelines to provide more effective care; to conduct supervision of employees or evaluate their performance; to train our employees; to determine satisfaction with our services; for general business planning and development; or for business management and general administrative activities.

 

For the aforementioned reasons of sharing protected health information to provide treatment, obtain payment, or for health care operations, written consent or permission is not needed by the patient. However if the information is to be used for any purpose other than those identified, a written statement from the patient or the authorized representative saying that we may share information is needed.

 

You, as the patient, have the following rights regarding the use and disclosure of the protected health information:

 

1. The right to request restrictions or limitations on how your personal history/information is used. For example, you can ask that your information is not shared with a particular family member. Specialized Speech Technologies personnel cannot agree to or refuse a specific patient’s request for restrictions. Specialized Speech Technologies, personnel may end a restriction if we believe it puts you or your health at risk. You can decide to end a restriction yourself at any time. The patient needs make this request in writing and submit it to the Privacy Officer.

2. The right to select the way in which you receive information from us (i.e. have all correspondence mailed to a PO Box or to a specific family member’s address). A written request needs to be submitted to the Privacy Officer.

3. The right to ask to see your health information, to copy it, or revise it. A written request needs to be submitted to the Privacy Officer.

4. The right to request a record of all the times we share your personal history or information other than those used for treatment, payment, or operations. A written request needs to be submitted to the Privacy Officer.

 

There are some important exceptions to requiring an authorization stated in the federal regulation. We can provide your protected health information to representatives in the following capacity without your written permission:

• To public health authorities- local or national

• To a government representative responsible for responding to concerns about abuse, neglect, or domestic violence as permitted by law

• For judicial or administrative proceedings

• For law enforcement purposes

• To funeral directors, coroners, and medical examiners

• For purposes or organ or tissue donationFor research purposes as approved by the Privacy Board

• To avert a serious threat to health or safety

• For special government functions such as national security

• For purposes of worker’s compensation

 

If you believe that your confidentiality has been violated, you can contact the President of Specialized Speech Technologies, Inc. at 614.734.7777 to file a complaint. We want to hear your concerns, and you will not be retaliated against if you file a complaint.

 

This Privacy Policy at Specialized Speech Technologies, Inc. is in effective as of April 14, 2003. Your Privacy Officer is Melanie Shultz who may be contacted at 614.734.7777. We welcome your questions, as the privacy of our protected information is one of our most important promises to you.

 

This notice is available to any patient upon request. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and to provide the revised notice to any patient who is receiving our services.

 

Click                                         to download and print our privacy policy.